Parking Commission.

411 West First Street City of Duluth Duluth, Minnesota 55802 Minutes Parking Commission. Friday, August 2, 2024 7:30 AM Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, City Hall ROLL CALL Members Present • Antonio Davis • Mike Mayou • Andrew Paszak • Branden Robinson, Vice President • Brandon Van Tassel • Robert Woods, President • Mark Bauer, Ex Officio Guests Present • Ari Eilola, Duluth Operations Manager – Interstate Parking Company • John Ramos, Investigative Reporter – Duluth Monitor APPROVAL OF MINUTES City of Duluth Parking Services Manager Mark Bauer presented the July 2024 Duluth Parking Commission meeting minutes for approval. Commission Vice President Branden Robinson motioned that the minutes be approved as presented. Commissioner Mike Mayou seconded the motion, which was approved 6-0. ON-STREET ACCESSIBLE PARKING ZONE REQUESTS Mr. Bauer presented two on-street accessible parking zone requests for approval. He stated that he had visited the sites and consulted with the Commission on Disabilities and the applicants. He recommended that both requests be approved. He stated that the request for 2904 West 2nd Street was for “mirrored” zones on both sides of the applicable alternate side route. Commissioner Andrew Paszak motioned that the request for 2904 West 2nd Street be approved. Commissioner Mayou seconded the motion, which was approved 6-0. Commissioner Robinson motioned that the request for 615 North 56th Avenue West be approved. Commission President Robert Woods seconded the motion, which was approved 6-0. PROPOSAL TO ADD WEEKEND ON-STREET PARKING FEE ENFORCEMENT IN CANAL PARK Mr. Bauer introduced a proposal to add Saturday and Sunday on-street parking fee enforcement to public streets in Canal Park. He stated that the request to City of Duluth Page 1 Parking Commission. Minutes August 2, 2024 make this change originated from Canal Park business leaders and was discussed with the Canal Park Business Association, who support the change. He stated that generally consistency was preferred among different areas of the city with regard to parking regulations but that Canal Park’s heavy seasonal tourism element differentiated it and pointed to a different set of needs. Mr. Bauer stated that he and the area’s business leaders had agreed that the area would best be served by weekend fee enforcement, which would better encourage turnover of public parking stalls and promote the area’s economic health. Mr. Bauer stated that the hours of enforcement would mirror those featured on weekdays. Commissioner Mayou indicated concern with the potential impact on the area’s employees, who could be utilizing the on-street parking, and encouraged a parking study of the situation, as well as more discussion with area stakeholders. Commissioner Paszak requested that the Parking Services Division monitor the effects of the change, if approved, and relay the information to the Commission as needed. Mr. Bauer stated that the City encouraged the area stakeholders to work toward creative solutions for employee parking, such as utilization of private off-street parking options and subsidization of employee parking costs. Commissioner Mayou indicated support of bicycle parking options to help diffuse parking demand in the area. Mr. Bauer stated that new signage and stickers, as well as adjustment to the City’s Park Duluth mobile parking payment system, would be utilized to indicate the change to the public, as well as public communication developed in cooperation between the City and the CPBA. Commissioner Robinson motioned that the proposal be approved. Commissioner Woods seconded the motion, which was approved 5-1 (Commissioner Mayou opposing). PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH NAMES FOR TWO NEW CITY-OWNED PARKING FACILITIES AND TO RENAME MEDICAL DISTRICT RAMP Mr. Bauer introduced a proposal to establish names for two new medical district-area City-owned parking facilities and to rename the existing Medical District Ramp. He stated that the Parking Services division had determined that more discussion would be needed regarding the Essentia Health-area facility and Medical District Ramp but that the Division was comfortable moving ahead with a recommendation to name the Aspirus/St. Luke’s-area facility “Medical District Ramp East.” He stated that the name had been agreed-upon by the City and by Aspirus, due to its value in public wayfinding and consistency. Commissioner Robinson motioned that the proposal be approved. Commissioner Mayou seconded the motion, which was approved 6-0. OFF-STREET PARKING UPDATE Interstate Parking Company Duluth Operations Manager Ari Eilola provided an update on off-street parking. He stated that the new Medical District Ramp East public parking facility had opened to the public on July 29 and that operations had been smooth so far. He stated that additional signage would soon be installed to aid in public wayfinding. Mr. Eilola stated that a public ribbon-cutting ceremony would occur on August 6 and would include representatives from the City of Duluth Chamber of Commerce, the City of Duluth, Aspirus/St. Luke’s, and Interstate Parking. Mr. Bauer stated that the project had been completed very quickly and in excellent cooperation with Aspirus/St. Luke’s. He stated that the new facility would support the area’s tax base and future development plans, as well as serve the needs of the area’s current stakeholders. Mr. Eilola stated that City of Duluth Page 2 Parking Commission. Minutes August 2, 2024 Interstate was still on schedule for an autumn installation of new facility access control systems at Technology Village and Medical District Ramps and that pigeon mitigation measures in those facilities was also on-track. He stated that education on the facilities’ upcoming new gateless parking payment systems was ongoing and added that painting and sealcoating in the stairwells at Hart District Ramp would soon be complete. Commissioner Myou inquired into the status of installation of the accessible push-button door access system at Medical District Ramp. Mr. Eilola stated that this was scheduled for completion the following week. Mr. Eilola also provided information regarding the timing of third-party parking ramp security patrols in response to an inquiry by Commissioner Robinson. Mr. Bauer presented an update on parking facilities calls-for-service and security, noting that there had been a significant decrease in reported incident by both the contracted security staff and by the Duluth Police Department following the installation of the new access control system at Hart Ramp. He also noted that the neighboring facilities’ incident number had only slightly increased during the same time period, stating that collectively the numbers indicated a brighter future for security and cleanliness in the public parking facilities. ON-STREET PARKING UPDATE Mr. Bauer stated that there were no significant updates regarding on-street parking operations. PUBLIC COMMENTS Duluth Monitor Investigative Reporter John Ramos requested that care be taken by all to speak clearly into the room microphones so that all comments could be heard. City of Duluth Page 3